John Maginnis: Politicians get hopes up for 2014

In politics, as in life this time of year, hope springs annually if not eternally, until, from the Legislature in the spring to the voting booth in the fall, dim reality sets in. But as the year turns, politicians start by looking to the bright side for what they, if not we, hope will happen in 2014.

For the new year, if there is one hope that President Barack Obama and Gov. Bobby Jindal share it is that, after 2013, things only get better for them both. For Jindal, the dismal flop of his income tax repeal plan and his continued cuts to public services and college budgets resulted in the long low ebb of his approval ratings and the disappearance of his presidential prospects.

But the tide might be turning for him some, as December passed without the mid-year budget cuts that had become a holiday tradition for the Jindal administration. If state revenues finally are catching up with the governor's pronouncements of how well the economy is doing, 2014 could be his first year in the last five that he would not have to grapple with a budget crisis. He might even be able to put some money back into higher education instead of cutting more. That would do more for his popularity than passing something major through the Legislature or spending more time in-state, neither of which is likely to happen this year.

He should also hope this year shows that Jindalcare, his rapidly imposed public-private partnerships of hospitals and clinics, works as well for the uninsured as would have the expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare, which the governor spurned. Future years are another matter. If his model, based on federal funding that eventually will decline, is not sustainable long term, that will be the next governor's problem.

Also hoping to have a very bad year behind her is U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, whose year-end was marred by attack ads from out-of-state groups over her support of the Affordable Care Act and other Obama policies. Her re-election hopes ride on the new federal health insurance law improving on its disastrous rollout to at least work well enough for ordinary citizens that it does not become the burning issue in her re-election campaign this fall. With control of the Senate possibly hanging in the balance, the national spotlight will be on her like never before in her career, also hanging in the balance.

With the great Senate opportunity within their reach, state Republicans' hopes lie with peace breaking out in their own party, but that seems no more likely than in the Mideast. Congressman Bill Cassidy of Baton Rouge is the anointed one, but many on the right wing remain unimpressed and some like conservative Rob Manness' tea party message. The GOP field could crowd more soon, now that state Rep. Paul Hollis of Mandeville has filed federal election papers necessary to form a Senate campaign. The best the party can hope for is for their candidates to keep their aim on Landrieu and not to turn on each other.

For Democrats, the past year was no worse than the last five or so, which have all been horrible. Now the party's remaining hopes for statewide office reside within the Landrieu family. Getting the action started this year is New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu's re-election bid, which his sister Mary hopes will be accomplished without racial rancor that could spill over to her fall election. Democrats further hope that a victorious Mitch does not go long into his second term before setting his sights on the governor's race, for which Democrats have not had a runoff contender in 10 years.

Starting it all off will be U.S. Sen. David Vitter when he soon reveals his decision of whether or not to run for governor in 2015. He had a better year than all of the above, but now he ponders turning his back on Washington and a long, safe Senate career to lay all his hopes on the line, and likely some fears too, in a quest for all the power he could hope for.

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John Maginnis: Politicians get hopes up for 2014

In politics, as in life this time of year, hope springs annually if not eternally, until, from the Legislature in the spring to the voting booth in the fall, dim reality sets in. But as the year